Dignan



Feb. 19, 1957 P. DIGNAN TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-531991. l

Percival Dignan INVENTOR.

Feb. 19, 1957 P. DlGNAN TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 195 5 2 Sheets-Sigeet 2 TAD Percival Dignan .INVENTOR.

BY 4mm al aca I? United States Patent TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Percival Dignan, Los Angeles, Calif. pplication September 14, 1955, Serial No. 534,198 .12 Claims. 01. 164-48) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in dispensing devices; and more specifically to an improved ticket issuing machine.

This application is,a'pontinuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 41 filed'De ce'mber 17, 1954, now abandoned.

The primary object of flii invention is to provide an improved ticket issuing machineiwhich is so constructed whereby upon operation of an actuator thereof a ticket is first fed out of the machine, and by further movement of the actuator, the ticket is cut off from the strip of tickets, the actuator being returnable prior to the cutting off of the ticket whereby a plurality of tickets may be issued in a single strip before they are cut off from the elongated strip.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ticket issuing machine which includes an actuator so mounted whereby it may in sequence operate a ticket feed reel and a cutoff knife, the actuator being so constructed whereby it may be manually, mechanically or electromechanically actuated as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ticket issuing machine, the ticket issuing machine being of such a nature whereby it may be selectively incorporated in a portable housing or may be mounted as part of a ticket booth for the issuing of tickets.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved ticket issuing machine which includes a ticket rive wheel, there being provided within the machine means connected to the feed wheel which limit the rotation of the ticket feed wheel to that movement required to issue a single ticket and also prevents the reverse rotation of the ticket feed wheel.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the housing of the ticket issuing machine conforming to the spirit of this invention and shows the general arrangement of the means for issuing a ticket and cutting such ticket from a strip of tickets;

Figure 2 is a rotated vertical sectional view looking at the opposite side of the mechanism of Figure 1 and shows further the details thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure l and shows the ticket feed wheel being driven to a position for issuing a ticket, there being illustrated in dotted lines the movement of the knife for cutting off such tickets;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the specific connection between a star wheel and the ticket feed wheel and the stop members carried by the ticket feed wheel; and

2,781,841 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3; and shows the manner in which the knife is mounted for guided movemefit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a ticket issuing machine which is the subject of this invention, the ticket issuing machine being referredto in general by the reference numeral 10. The ticket issuing machine 10 includes a suitable housing or support which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. Only those portions of the housing 12 which are necessary for the description of the present invention are illustrated. It is to be understood that the housing or support 12 may be varied in detail depending upon whether or not the ticket issuing machine is to be portable and the number of ticket issuing mechanisms mounted therein. The housing or support 12 does include a front wall 14, a top wall 16, and an intermediate wall portion 18 extending between the front wall 14 and the top, wall 16.

Suitably supported on the forward portion of the support or housing 12 is a transverse shaft 20. Mounted on the shaft 20 for rotation is a ticket feed wheel 22. The ticket feed wheel 22 is formed of flat sheet material, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, and includes a plurality of projecting, circumferentially spaced spokes 24.

Pivotally carried by the support 12 and engaging the front wall 14 is a ticket retaining member 26. The ticket retaining member 26 is provided with a groove 28 for receiving projecting portions of the spokes 24.

Mounted in the lower portion of the support 12 is a roll or folded strip of tickets 30. The tickets 30 are of the conventional type and are provided with apertures 32 at their intersection. The strip of tickets 30 passes upwardly over a roller 36 suitably carried by the supports 12 and the spokes 24 project through aligned ones of the openings 32. The spokes 24 then pass up through the recess 28 with the member 26 holding the tickets 36 on the spokes 24. Disposed intermediate the spokes 24 are ticket support ribs 38 of the feed wheel 22.

After passing off the spokes 24 of the ticket feed wheel 22, the tickets move over an upper roller 40 carried by the support 12. The tickets 30 then pass between a depending guide flange 42 along the forward edge of the top wall 16 and an upstanding guide flange 44 in the wall portion 18.

In order to effect rotation of the ticket feed wheel 22, there is also rotatably journaled on the shaft 20 a star wheel 46. The star wheel 46 includes a plurality of fingers 48 which are radially aligned with the spokes 24. The star wheel 46 is provided with an arcuate slot 50 in which there is seated a drive pin 52. The drive connection between the star wheel 46 and the ticket feed wheel 22 utilizing the pin 52 and the slot 50 permits the star wheel 46 to drive the ticket feed 22 when rotated in a clockwise dircction, as viewed in Figure 1, and at the same time, permits limited counter-clockwise movement of the star wheel 46 without like movement of the. ticket feed wheel 22 for reasons to be set forth in more detail hereinafter. Extending between the star wheel 46 and the ticket feed wheel 22 and carried by the shaft 20 is a spring 54 which returns the star wheel 46 to its normal driving position of Figure l. r

In order that the ticket feed wheel 22 may be driven through the use of the star wheel 46, there is provided an actuator which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The actuator 56 is keyed to a shaft 58 by means of the key 60. The shaft 58 is pivotally journaled with respect to the support 12.

Extending forwardly and upwardly from the shaft 58 is a first arm 62 of the actuator 56. The arm 62 carries a roller 64 which is selectively engaged with the fingers 48 of the star wheel 46.

In order to cause the pivoting of the actuator 56, there is connected to a second leg 63 a link 66, the link 66 being connected to the leg 63 byimeans of pivot pin 68. The link 66 is connected to any desired type of operator and whenmoved to the right, will cause pivoting of the actuator 56 in a counter-clockwise direction. This will result in the movement of the arm 62 and its roller 64 downwardly to drive the star wheel 46 in a clockwise direction.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 in particular, it will be seen that the length and configuration of the fingers 48 is such that when the arm 62-is pivoted from the solid line position of Figure 1 to the solid line position of Figure 3, the ticket feed wheel 22 is rotated a sufficient amount to feed exactly one ticket 30. At this time, the roller 64 rolls out of engagement with the particular finger 48 of the star wheel 46 and no further clockwise rotation of the star wheel 46 and the ticket feed wheel 22 is accomplished.

In order to prevent overriding of the ticket feed wheel 22 due to-the momentum thereof, there is secured to the face of the ticket feed wheel22 opposite from the star wheel 46 a plurality of circumferentially spaced stop members 70. The stop members 70 are preferably in the form of rollers carried by pins. Pivotally mounted on apivot pin 72 carried by the support 12 is a stop link 74. The stop link 74 is urged into engagement with the stop members 70 by means of a coil spring 76. An edge of the stop link 74 is provided with a suitable socket 78 in which 'the s'top'members 70 are seated.

ln-a'ddition, a wheel 75 having a peripheral stop 77 is mounted on shaft 58. A spring 79 similar to spring 54 is connected to wheel 75 by having one end disposed in a slot in wheel 75 and is secured at its other end to actuato'r 56. Accordingly, as the actuator 56 is oscillated in the direction which ultimately causes ticket feeding rotation of wheel 22, spring 79 drives wheel 75 to such position that its stop 77 enters the path of travel of one of the spokes 24 of wheel 22. That spoke contacts stop 77 and thereby prevents overtravel of ticket feed wheel 22. This feature is particularly useful during high speed operation of the machine. When actuator 56 is oscill'ated 'inthe opposite direction, 'as by return spring 106, the wheel 75is returned, thereby'separating stop 77 from the ticket feed wheel (Figure 1) and brings it in realignment for further operation with actuator 56. -In order to prevent reverse rotation of the ticket feed wheel 22, there is also carried by the support 12 a retaining link '80. The retaining link 80 is mounted on a pivot pin 82 and is spring urged into engagement with the stop members 70 by a spring 84. It is to be noted that the retaining member 80 has a notched free end 86 in which the stop members 70 may seat.

In order that a ticket 'fed by the ticket feed wheel 22 may be cut off for dispension to 'a purchaser, there is .pro-

vided a cutoff knife 88. The cutoff knife 88 is elongated and has the opposite side edges thereof seated in suitable guides 90, as is best illustrated in Figure 5, carried by the support 12. The cutoff knife is urged to the right to a retracted position by the spring 76 which extends between the stop '74 and a depending tab 92 on the cutoff knife 88.

The cutoff knife 88 is provided at its rear or right hand end, as viewed in Figure '1, with a depending flange 94. The flange 94 is engageable with a stop 96 carried by the "support 12 to prevent movement of the cutoff .knife 88 to the right. The cutoff knife 88 also includes an intermediate depending bracket '98.

In order that the cutoff knife 88 may efficiently cut off a ticket 30 from the strip oftickets, there is carried by the support -12 a fixed knife blade 100. The fixed knife blade 100 is disposed forwardly of the cutoff knife 88 on the side of the ticket strip 30 opposite from the cutoff knife 88 and disposed slightly therebelow. The cutofi knife '88 slides over the .fixed blade 100 and cooperates'therewithto cut off a ticket.

In order that the cutting off of a ticket 30 may be automatic, the actuator 56 also includes a second arm 102. The arm 102 is provided at the outer end thereof with a roller 104. The roller 104 is disposed between the flange 94 and the bracket 98 and in the inoperative position of the actuator 56 is in engagement with the flange 94. The actuator 56 is urged to this position by a spring 106 which extends between the front wall 14 and the lower end of the arm 64.

In the operation of the present invention, the actuator 56 is pivoted about the axis of the shaft 58 either by the link 66 or by means of a crank (not shown) connected directly to the shaft 58. At this time, the initial pivoting of the actuator 56 will result in the driving of the star wheel 46 and the ticket feed wheel 22 in the manner previously described to advance the strip of tickets 30 sufficiently to feed one ticket. If the actuator 56 is not further pivoted, or is permitted to return to its position of Figure 1 from the solid line position of Figure 3, the roller '64 will strike the next finger 48 of the star Wheel 46 and cause a counter-clockwise pivoting of the star wheel 46 for a limited distance. The ticket feed wheel 22 will not move due to the positions of the retaining link 80. As soon as the roller 64 has moved back over the finger 48 in question, the spring 54 will then return the star wheel 46 to its drive position of Figure l.

The pivoting of the actuator 56 in the manner described above may be continued the desired number of times to feed the desired number of tickets, the number being limited only by the number of tickets 30 in the ticket strip.

After the desired number of tickets has been fed, the tickets may then be cut off from the remainder of the ticket strip. This is accomplished by pivoting the actuator 56 beyond its solid line position of Figure 3 to the dotted line position of that figure. During the movement of the actuator 56 from the solid line position of Figure 1 to the solid line position of Figure 3, the roller 104 is merely moving between the flange 94 and the bracket '98. However, when it is moved past the solid line position of Figure 3, it then engages the bracket 98 and moves the cutoff knife 88 to the left. Inasmuch as the further pivoting of the actuator 56 does not result in further movement of the ticket feed wheel 22, the intersection between adjacent tickets 30 will be aligned with the blade and the cutoff knife 88. Therefore, this further movement of the actuator 56 will result in the cutting off of the ticket or tickets 30.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a ticket feeding and cutoff mechanism which is so designed whereby any desired number of tickets may be fed in a single strip, and those tickets may be cut off when desired, the arrangement of parts being such that the tickets are cut off directly at their ends.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initialpivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a-ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, stop means connected to said ticket feed wheel for limiting the rotation of said ticket feed wheel upon pivoting of said actuator whereby the ticket is correctly aligned with said knife.

2. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a

="ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes,'said ticket feed Wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said connec, d to said ticket feed wheel for limiting the rotation of 'said ticket feed wheel upon pivoting of said actuator whereby the ticket is correctly aligned with said knife,

said stop means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced stop members projecting from said ticket feed wheel, a stop link pivotally carried by said support and being spring urged into engagement with said stop members, said stop link having a socket receiving one of said stop members.

3. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, wheel positioning means carried by said support and connected to said ticket feed wheel to prevent back rotation thereof.

4. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutofi' knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, stop means connected to said ticket feed wheel for limiting the rotation of said ticket feed wheel upon pivoting of said actuator whereby the ticket is correctly aligned with said knife, said stop means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced stop members projecting from said ticket feed wheel, a stop link pivotally carried by said support and being spring urged into engagement with said stop members, said stop link having a socket receiving one of said step members, wheel positioning means carried by said support and connected to said ticket feed wheel to prevent back rotation thereof, said wheel positioning means including a retaining link pivotally carried by said support and selectively engaging said stop members.

5. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, said overriding one way driving connection including a star wheel mounted adjacent said ticket feed wheel, drive means connecting said star wheel and said ticket feed wheel, said star wheel including a plurality of fingers, said fingers being of a length so as to permit said first arm to ride out of engagement therewith upon the driving of said ticket feed wheel a desired amount.

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff" knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, said overriding one-way driving connection including a star wheel mounted adjacent said ticket feed wheel, drive means connecting said star wheel and said ticket feed wheel, said star wheel including a plurality of fingers, said fingers being of a length so as to permit said first arm to ride out of engagement therewith upon the driving of said ticket feed wheel a desired amount, said drive means including a slot in said star wheel, a drive pin carried by said star wheel engaged in said slot whereby said first arm in returning to its normal position may slightly reversely rotate said star wheel without moving said drive wheel.

.7. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting oflf of the ticket, said overriding one-way driving connection including a star wheel mounted adjacent said ticket feed wheel, drive means connecting said star wheel and said ticket feed wheel, said star wheel including a plurality of fingers, said fingers being of a length so as to permit said first arm to ride out of engagement therewith upon the driving of said ticket feed wheel a desired amount, said drive means including a slot in said star wheel, a drive pin carried by said star wheel engaged in said slot whereby said first arm in returning to its normal position may slightly reversely rotate said star wheel without moving said drive wheel, wheel positioning means carried by said support and connected to said ticket feed wheel to prevent back rotation thereof.

8. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support for rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, said overriding one-way driving connection including a star wheel mounted adjacent said ticket feed wheel, drive means connecting said st-ar wheel and said ticket feed wheel, said star wheel including a plurality of fingers, said fingers being of a length so as to permit said first arm to ride out of engagement therewith upon the driving of said ticket feed wheel a desired amount, stop means connected to said ticket feed wheel for limiting the rotation of said ticket feed wheel upon pivoting of said actuator whereby the ticket is correctly aligned with said knife.

9. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being carried by said support tor-rotation, an actuator pivotally carried by said support, and a ticket'cutoif knife carried bysaid support, said actuator-including 'a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said -kn'ife whereby initial pivoting of said actuator will resultin the feeding of a'ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off of the ticket, said overriding one-way driving connection including a star wheel mounted adjacent said ticket feed wheel, drive means connecting said'star wheel and said ticket feed wheel, said star wheel including apluralit-y of fingers, said fingers being of a length so as to permit said first arm to ride out of engagement therew'ithupon the driving of said ticket feed wheel a de's'i-red amount, said drive means including a slot in said-star wheel, -a drive pin carried by said stnr wheel engaged in said slot-whereby said first arm in returning to its normal position may slightly reversely rotate said star wheel without moving said drive wheel, spring means between said star wheel and said ticket feed wheel returningsaid star wheel to a ticket feed wheel driving position.

10. In -a ticket issuing machine which includes a support, a ticket feed wheel having a plurality of ticket engaging spokes and mounted for rotation on said support; an actuator pivoted to said support and including an arm, overriding means responsive to pivotal movement in one direction of said actuator and drivingly connected with said ticket feed wheel for actuating said feed wheel, and a stop movable simultaneously with said actuator into the path of travel of and contacted by .one of said spokes to prevent overtrave'l of said ticket feed wheel.

-11. A ticket issuing machine comprising a support, a ticket feed wheelhaving aplurality-of ticket engageable spokes, said ticket feed wheel being-carried Lb-y support for rotation an actuator pivotally carried by-said support, and a ticket cutoff knife carried by said support, said actuator including a first arm having an overriding one-way driving connection with said ticket feed wheel, and a second arm having a lost motion driving connection with said knifewherc'by initial pivoting of said actuator will result in the feeding of a ticket and further pivoting will result in the cutting off. of the ticket, a pair of guide flanges in advance of-said ticket cutotf knife, and said flanges being spaced to providea narrow ticket passage therebetween through'which the cut tickets are adapted to pass.

12. The machine of claim 2 wherein said stop means also includes a stop movable with said actuator .in one direction to a position in-the path of travel of one of said spokes of the ticket feed wheel and withdrawable therefrom with the actuator when said actuator is moved in the opposite direction.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

